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Fire hydrants have been around in Kingston since the late 1800's. They were put there, not for dogs, but for
fire protection. But the "fire' in fire hydrant does not mean that because there is a hydrant there must be water or
there must be protection.
In Kingston, the hydrants are not in the Fire Departments arsenal, but are owned and
maintained by the WATER Department. This presents some interesting scenerios because when your primary mission is providing
drinking water, fire hydrants, sometimes, are not on the top of the list of things that get top priority.
The following is a potpourri of "fire hydrants of Kingston".
| Upper Main Street at Green Street |
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This is what a hydrant is supposed to look like.Visible, well maintained, ready and able. If you live on upper
Main Street, you have this guardian near you!!!!
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| Pembroke Street near Grove Street |
But, if you live on Pembroke Street....
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| Bradford Avenue |
Hydrants have a identity all there own depending on where they are and how old they are. Some
are over 100 years old and connected to water mains of the same age.
Water mains and fire hydrants serving Spring Street,
Bradford Avenue, Elder Avenue, Brewster Avenue are the oldest active water mains and hydrants in Kingston dating back to 1900.
The area is heavily populated with older "baloon construction "multi family and single family dwellings.
There are only 3 fire hydrants serving the entire
four street neighborhood
There is a major warehouse and trucking terminal nearby. This property is planning a major expansion
and no upgrades or improvements in the water mains or fire hydrants are planned.
Some work, ...... some don't.
The problem is...you don't know which one works or which one does
not work until ..............
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| Main at Prospect |
Building Fire....Lower Main Street
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| Missing hydrant - Maple Street |
Fire on Maple Street. The day before a fire was reported in a nearby home, the fire hydrant had been removed
at the request of a builder because it interferred with access to a new home he was building. No one told
the Fire Department. The hydrant was never replaced . 110 additional housing units are proposed for the neighborhood!!!
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| Von Rohr Estates |
Then there are those that open, but nothing comes out!!!!
If you live on Barvian Way, Alpine Run Road , Parting Ways or any of the streets in the Von Rohr estates area,
there is no water in your fire hydrants!!!
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